The Renaissance was a period or great creative activity, in which artists broke away from the restrictions of Byzantine Art. Throughout the 15th century, artists studied the natural world, perfecting their understanding of such subjects as anatomy and perspective. Among the many great artists of this period were Leonardo Davinci, Micheal Angelo, Paolo Uccello, Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and Piero della Francesca.